As we told you earlier, there was a charged atmosphere in San Ignacio Town today. Hundreds gathered in front of the town's police station to protest, and vent the community's anger against the man accused of murdering 13 year old Jasmine Lowe.
He is Bert Vasquez, accused of being a super-predator - and today's crowd was super-angry at him - Monica Bodden was in the thick of it - and she has this report:
Monica Bodden Reporting
Residents of the Cayo district gathered in a large crowd outside the police station from around 8 this morning- as they eagerly awaited the moment when the suspected child predator 28 year old Bert Vasquez would be escorted outside the station and into the courtroom.
The crowd was in the hundreds - and they chanted one thing, justice for the life of 13 year old Jasmine Lowe.
Written on colorful banners and posters - were messages -most of which read - we want justice.
This one woman held an effigy - with the picture of the suspect - Bert Vasquez.
It was a emotionally charged and angry demonstration - with one message…
Monica Bodden
"What's the purpose for this gesture?"
Protester #1
"We want the entire country of Belize to know that we want justice, and we are tired of crime. We are tired. We want to beautiful jewel of ours at peace, and we have to stand together to get it. That's why we are here. You notice; I missed a day of work because I want justice. This is a symbol of justice. We won't tolerate any more crime, zero tolerance for crime. We need our jewel back."
Protester #2
"We are out here because we want justice. We are tired of the many things happening in Belize. I believe that too much is too much, and our children are in danger. We are out here, and I'm happy to see a large crowd out here. We came together as one, and this is what we all need to do whenever something wrong happens. Let's come out together as one and voice what we want. We want justice in this case. And in this case, there are many witnesses coming out, so I believe that this person who is in there, who committed that crime, must be put in jail. We don't want to hear he bailed out because he has money. We cannot with this. Where are we heading? And, as a teacher, I am concerned because I have so many kids who I teach, and I want my children - Belize, the prime minister, I am calling out to him. Please do something about this. We are tired of it."
Chris Lowe - Jasmine Lowe's Father
"I am not really sure of anything at this point. They did find my daughter's ring, but that doesn't prove that he killed her. He does have a history, so whether he did it or not, he needs to be put out of commission. I hope that he is the right one. He was actually seen in the vehicle by some other potential vehicle."
Monica Bodden
"What's the feeling like to know that the entire San Ignacio community coming out to support you and your family."
Chris Lowe
"I've said this in just about any interview I've had so far that I really appreciate it. The prayers and the support have been incredible, but this is telling. It's a shame that it had to be my daughter, but I am appreciative."
Protester #3
"My reaction is that I would want to grab him and kill him too. I am mad; every mother is mad. We think that this is the place that we should be now because when will Belize stop with the crime? I don't know when, and who that person was doing the crime. He must have a lot of money, maybe, that's why he is doing what he's doing."
Protester #4
"I am out here to support the mother for Jasmine and the others because she was my neighbor. I have children; my daughter used to go with her when she was smaller. It was sad for us to hear that because we are afraid now. All the other parents, we were praying to God to show is the one. We just want justice."
And after waiting for over 6 hours outside the police station- in the boiling sun, Bert Vasquez was escorted to the courtroom by police. While so, the crowd was pumped with anger as they shouted they for justice. And even though there was massive police presence, that didn't stop the crowd from throwing stones at the alleged child predator.
While inside the courtroom Vasquez was asked by the magistrate to give his address, where he indicated that he wanted to approach the bench because he didn't feel safe to give his address - so he was given a pen and paper in which he wrote his address. In the end, Vasquez was charged with the murder of 13 year old Jasmine Lowe. Bert Vasquez court case is adjourned until August 14 - he will be remanded to the Hattieville prison until then.
Protester #1
"I am describing that we want the person to be hanged. We want justice, and this is the reason why we are here. If you look around, look at how many young girls. We want justice."
Monica Bodden
"What was the emotion like when you saw that suspect in Ms. Lowes -?"
Protester #1
"They covered him so much that we couldn't see him. They protected him so much. You know what hurts? It's our tax money - hard-earned money - that is paying for them to protect criminals."
Protester #5
"Put the man on the verandah and allow everyone to see him. That's not right that they took him through the back and hind him. What will they protect the man for? The man already killed him and raped him."
Protester #1
"She is saying that we are out here for justice. If this would have happened in Guatemala, he would brought down. We want justice."
Marisol Lowe - Jasmine Lowe's Mother
"I feel good that people are still supporting, but this is really hard."
Monica Bodden
"When you saw that suspect, when you saw his face, what were the emotions like?"
Marisol Lowe
"There are not any words. I feel like if I had something, I would throw it. I just which that they will give me justice, and I don't know they had a closed court for him. I don't think that's fair. We're supposed to be there."
Monica Bodden
"So you guys are not allowed inside the court?"
Marisol Lowe
"No, we are not."
Monica Bodden
"And as the mother, you felt that you belonged in there."
Marisol Lowe
"Yes, of course, I want to hear everything."
A press conference was called shortly after where Senior Superintendent Chester Williams, who is the officer commanding the Cayo district, and the Commissioner of Police, David Henderson briefed the media on the situation.
Police held a press conference after the arraignment saying they have the right person and they have multiple pieces of evidence pointing at him.
Tomorrow he is going back to court where he will be charged for 11 counts including various charges including common assault.
Here's more from the press conference...
Senior Superintendent Chester Williams - Officer Commanding Cayo Police
"What we did today was basically arraigning him for the charge of murder, which is the more serious of the other charges that he will be getting. Hopefully, by tomorrow morning, we will be able to arraign him in relation to 11 counts of various degrees of offenses from common assault, to unlawful imprisonment, to aggravated assault. It will be dependent on the nature of the complaint received from these complainants. So far, we have done 10 identification parades, and in all those identification parades, these females have positively identified Bert Vasquez who was the driver of the vehicle on the day in question, when the vehicle attempted to pick them up for money. So, to answer your question, Mr. Jones, between this evening and tomorrow, he will be arraigned. Thereafter, he will be transported to the Hattieville prison. In relation to the charge of murder, he was read that one count today in court, and he was remanded until August 14. As you know, murder is an offense for which the court does not take plea. The court just practically reads the charge to the person, and set an adjournment date because it is one for which you are not afforded to right to bail. So he will be remanded to prison until the trial date for that murder comes up."
We'll have more on developments tomorrow...
